Stamp-vending machine



April 13 1926.

M. DELUDE STAMP VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet M. DELUDE April 13 1926.

STAMP VENDING MAGHI NE File-:1 Oct. 16 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet InUEh/"W .ljllsoel DeCade By fF-Tnays.

,improvements in details and combinations,

Patented Apr. 13, I 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

MISAEL DELUIDE, OF NORTH BROOKFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

, STAMP-VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed 0ctober 16, 1922. Serial No. 594.688.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that citizen of the United States, residing at North Brookfield, in the county of WVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have in vented a' new and useful Stamp-Vending Machine, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to a coin controlled machine of the type disclosed inmy prior Patent No. 823,7 69 dated June 19, 1906.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide improvements in that machine for absolutely insuring the working of the device when the proper coins are introduced and preventing its working when anything else is placed in the machine instead of the coins, and more specifically to provide a pivoted catch for engaging each coin and discharging it from the coin slide; to provide means for giving an audible signal in case anyone attempts to operate the machine with slugs or anything else in place of the proper coins; to provide positive means for preventing the issue of astamp 1f the machine does not operate, and to provide other as will appear.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying' drawings, in which-- I Fig. 1 is a plan of apart of a vending machine constructed on the principle of my above mentioned patent and showing my present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the casing showing the operating mechanism in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in another position; 7

Fig. 4 is a plan of'the coin slide with the parts above removedto show the construction below; v

' Fig. 5 is a side view of the means for operating the stamp feeding rolls;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig.

1, showing a controlling means operated bythe stamps for preventing the operation of the machine when the stamps give out;

Fig. 7 is a plan of the pusher slide of the machine on enlarged scale; s

Fig. 8 is a side view of thesame;

Fig. 9 is .a plan with the top plate of the slide removed; and

I, MISAEL DELUDE, a

Fig. 10 is a side view of the latch mechamsm co-operating with the feed of. the stamps.

This machine is constructed on the general principle of that shown in the above mentioned patent. The coins, preferably two as indicated in the drawings,.are inserted in a pusher slide 10 which is mounted in a guide 11 fixed at the end of the casing 12 in which the rest of the machine is located. This slide is shown double merel to provide for selling two-cent stamps. I an article were to be sold requiring only one coin, the slide would be single but the principle would be the same.

The slide is provided with top plates 13 which extend over two passages for the coins. constituting the bottoms of these passages are four pivoted central fingers 14 and at the opposite sides are two side fingers 15. The central fingers 14 can swing vertically on their horizontal pivots 14 at their front ends while the fingers 15 .can swing inwardly and outwardly on vertical pivots 15 located at about the same places. When there is no coin in the slide the central fingers 14 are located in inclined position, indicated in Fig. 2, and the side fingers 15 are located in the converging position shown in Fig. 1.

At the back of the slide is a stationary plate 16 having two passages 17 therethrough and also two side slots 18 If the slide is forced in with the fingers in the position indicated in the drawings with no coms in position, the central fingers 14 will strike the stationary late 16 under the openings 17. But if t e coins are in the proper position the ends of these fingers will be lifted up so that they will pass throu h the passages 17, as shown in Fig. 6. so the side fingers 15, if there are no coins in the slide, will engage the plate lfi because they do not register with the notches 18.

But, if two coins of the pro er diameter are inserted in contact with eac other, these fingers will be forced out by them so that they will pass through these slots, as shown in Fig. 6. V

It will be observed that the two coins must both be correct in diameter in order to operate the fingers 1'5 properly and if either one of them is too small, one of the fingers will hit the plate and prevent the operation of the slide while if too large the coins cannot be inserted. Likewise, the thickness must be exactly correct or the fingers 14 will prevent the operation of the slide. This is the general principle set forth in the above mentioned patent but in the present case the four fingers 14 are all of the same length.

Also in accordance with said patent the slide is mounted and guided on two fixed guide rods 19. On these guide rods is slidably mounted a plate 20 connected by a flexible connection 21 over a-roll 22 with a spring 23 at the rear. This roll 22 is freely mounted on a shaft 24 whichhas two opposite teeth 25. The roll 22 has a springpressed ratchet pawl 26 to engage these teeth as the roll oscillates. Each time the slide is moved all the way back by the projecting ends ofthe fingers 15 engaging the plate 20 the roll will be. turned at least one half a revolution and the shaft 24 just half a revolution. On the shaft 24 is one of the feeding out rolls 27 and the lower one 28 is geared to operate with it. Therefore the movement of the slide in the proper manner all the way in operates the feeding out rolls one half a revolution. They hold between them the end of a strip S of stamps and their circumference is equal to the length of two stamps. Therefore a stamp is fed from the strip and delivered from the machine through a slot in its end as in my patent.

The other improvements on the previously patented machine are connected with the parts so far described. On the slide 10 is a rod 30 which extends back in the machine and is provided with an arm 31 on the end. This arm when moved back to its limiting position engages the top of a lever 32 which has a weight on the bottom to hold it normally in vertical position. This swings the lever and an arm 33 connected with it by a connection 34 and swings a latch 35 on a pivot 39. This brings the latch up above a pair of teeth 36 fixed on the shaft of the roll 27. When this latch is down, this roll is positively prevented from turning by the latch and it is moved up only by the movement of the slide 10 all the way in. Stamps can never be delivered, therefore, unless this occurs. This constitutes a positive lock against; the feeding of the stamps when the slide cannot be forced in all the way.

Over the slide I have provided a pair of coin guards 40. Each of these is pivotally mounted over the path of the coin and has a weighted end at the rear for normally .forcing it down on that side and a slanting tooth 41 beyond it to engage with the coins as will appear. At the other side there is a sharp tooth 42. When the slide is operated with the proper coins in it the coins .themselves will engage the two arm 41 and swing the teeth 42 down so as to scrape along the tops of the coins and remove a sheet of tissue paper or anything of the kind that might be placed there to prevent the proper operation of the machine. Furthermore, if the coins are too thick, these will bear on them and prevent the slide being moved further in.

Mounted on a cross shaft 44 just beyond these guards is a pivoted guard 45 having two pawls 46 hanging down freely from it. This guard is engaged by a flexible metal plate 47 over its top having one end fixed. When the coin slide is forced in with the proper coins in position they will be carried along swinging the pawls in the manner set forth and will then operate the other pawls in a similar manner. If they are of the proper thickness the freely pivoted pawls will be moved up over them. If either of the coins is too thick the slide will be stopped. As the slide is pushed in the coins force the coin guards 41 up at the rear against the guard which is resisted by the spring plate 47 as shown in Fig. 3. The pawls 46 are forced up at the rear by the coins and engage the spring 48 which holds them down. When the slide is drawn back out, the pawls 46 engage the front edges of the coins and prevent their moving out with the slide. The coins therefore are pushed from under the top plates 13 and fall down between the fingers 14. As the slide moves out therefore the coins are deposited in the coin box below. If in any way the coins escape these pawls they will be pushed off the slide by the other two pawls 41.

I have also provided a means for giving a signal if any one is trying to operate the device when it will not operate to deliver a stamp. For this purpose a flexible blade 50 is located at the side of the machine held down by a strip of stamps in a position to be engaged by the left hand side piece 15 when that moves in. This bends the blade and operates a pivoted lever 51 which pulls a cord 61 and swings a clapper 62 to engage a bell 52 and give an audible signal.

I have also provided a change in the means of preventing the collection of the coins if the stamps have given out. For

this purpose I locate the blade 50 on a lever having an arm 53 located under the strip of stamps and held down by it. On the other end of this lever is the downwardly projecting blade 50 which will swing down by gravity when the strip of stamps gives out, so that the arm 53 is no longer helddown. hen the blade 50 is down it is in the way of the left hand side piece or finger- 15 no matter whether it is in the right or wrong position and it will prevent the machine from operating and cause the bell to ring as will be obvious.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the 1. An apparatus of the class described,

comprising'a pusher-slide having side pieces which swing in toward the sllde, pivoted fingers which normally hang at an angle to the length of the slide, the side pieces and fingers being mounted to be held in operative position by coins of the proper dimensions, and a pivoted coin guard over the slide having a. tooth adapted to be raised by the passage under it of a coin of the proper thickness and having an opposite sharp tooth adapted to be forced down thereby into contact with the top of the coin, said teeth being located at such an elevation as to just allow a coin of the proper thickness to pass under them.

2. An apparatus vof the class described, comprising a pusher-slide, and a pivoted coin guard over the slide having a tooth adapted to be raised by the passage under it of a coin of the proper thickness and having an opposite sharp tooth adapted to be forced down thereby into contact with the top of the coin, said teeth being located at such an elevation as to just allow a coin of the proper thickness to pass under them.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

MISAEL DELUDE. 

